A FEW DAYS BIRDING IN SCOTLAND

I spent several days in Caithness, Scotland, enjoying some excellent winter birding and encountering a wide variety of species along the way. Travelling north, I made a brief stop at Newshot Island in the Clyde, where I was delighted to find an American Wigeon—a much-wanted addition to my Scottish life list and an encouraging start to the trip.

American Wigeon

During my stay in Thurso, the harbour and adjacent beach proved particularly productive. Among the highlights were Long-tailed Duck, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, and Wigeon, with additional noteworthy sightings including Black Guillemot, Eider, and Red-throated Diver.

Thurso Harbour and Beach

Long-tailed Duck

Sanderling

Ringed Plover

Wigeon

A visit to Broubster Leans RSPB, a new site for me, was especially rewarding. The reserve held good numbers of wintering Whooper Swans and Greenland White-fronted Geese, offering excellent views and reinforcing the site’s importance for wintering wildfowl in Caithness.

 Broubster Leans RSPB

Greenland White-fronted Goose

Whooper Swan

The return journey south produced further highlights. At Helmsdale (Highland), I was pleased to find a Kumlien’s Gull, while a stop at Loch Fleet yielded another Scottish lifer in the form of a Green-winged Teal. Finally, at Dornoch Beach, two Surf Scoters were located among an impressive flock of approximately 600 Common Scoters, alongside Slavonian Grebe and Red-throated Diver.

Kumlien's Gull at Helmsdale-Highland

Loch Fleet-Highland

Green-winged Teal

Dornoch beach-Highland

Surf Scoter

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable few days away, combining familiar favourites with several memorable highlights and welcome additions to the Scottish life list.

LATEST CHESHIRE & WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & BRITISH MEGAS!

30th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

Short-eared Owl and a male Hen Harrier by Rifle Range - Burton Marsh.

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) - Parkgate.

4 Hawfinch-One again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

2 Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Ruddy Shelduck-Two still in stubble fieldwith Egyptian Goose-Puddington

Ruddy Shelduck and Egyptian Goose

Little Stint-One again in high tide roost from Pickerings Hide-Pickerings Pasture

Caspian Gull,Yellow Legged Gull and Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

29th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-One again in trees by swimming pool-Marbury Country Park

2 Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russain White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

Ruddy Shelduck-Two still in stubble field-Puddington

28th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Green Winged Teal-Drake again at Rosemary's Flood-Sandbach Flashes

Green Winged Teal

Hawfinch-One again at Delamere Park at Westrees-Cuddington

Russian White Fronted Goose-One at Bradley Orchard Farm-Bradley

12,000 Common Scoter off shore, 6 Common Snipe on the 'marsh' - Hoylake Shore.

5 Great White Egret and 5 Marsh Harrier - Burton Marsh/Denhall Quay.

2150 Pink-footed Geese roosted overnight, 23 Brent Geese, 710 Shelduck, 530 Pintail, 2600 Oystercatcher, 

1200 Lapwing, 228 Golden Plover, 7000 Knot, 3000 Dunlin, 720 Curlew, 590 Black-tailed Godwit, 235 Bar-tailed Godwit, 550 Redshank over high tide - Heswall Shore.

27th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire & Wirral

Common Scoter-Female-type still-Astbury Mere

Jack Snipe - Neston Old Quay.

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) over marsh off Golf Course - Heswall.

26th November 2024

Megas

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

7,000 Common Scoter visible when flushed by a boat off East Hoyle Bank.

2 Purple Sandpiper on Marine Lake pontoon,27 Ringed PPlover by Perch Rock - New Brighton.

Hen Harrier (grey male) - Parkgate.

25th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Cheshire & Wirral

9+ Ruff, Peregrine (main scrape),21 Whooper Swan (border pool) and 2 Spotted Redshank (bridge screen) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Western Cattle Egret-Two in field by Craxton Wood Hotel and 2 Ruddy Shelduck-Puddington

Common Scoter-Astbury Mere

24th November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

9+ Ruff,Peregrine (main scrape),21 Whooper Swan (border pool) and 2 Spotted Redshank (bridge screen) -Burton Mere Wetlands.

Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

Western Cattle Egret-Two in field by Craxton Wood Hotel-Puddington

23rd November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) and 3 Great White Egret - Riverbank Road, Heswall.

22nd November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

Caspian Gull-1st-winter reported at WSR Recycling Centre, Ditton Road-Widnes

Short-eared Owl - Burton Mere Wetlands.

2 Hen Harrier (grey male and ringtail) - Parkgate.

21st November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

Little Stint on the shore - Hoylake.

2 Red Kite over and a Water Pipit - Burton Mere Wetlands.

3 Marsh Harrier over Visitor Centre flying north,12,000 Knot on shore - Thurstaston.

2 Hen Harrier (ringtail and grey male) and a Short-eared Owl - Burton Marsh.

Hawfinch-One still at Carriage Drive-Marbury Country Park

20th November 2024

Megas

Canvasback-Abberton Reservoir

Canvasback

Cheshire & Wirral

2 Water Pipit-Neston Marsh

Hawfinch-One at Marsh Covert then flew off-Burton RSPB

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

2 Hawfinch-Near Old Hall-Marbury Country Park

Greater White Fronted Goose-Sweeney Wetlands

19th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

9,000 Knot,2,500 Dunlin,250 Grey Plover and 248 Curlew on the shore,70 Linnet on marsh - West Kirby.

Kingfisher landed next to the channel and started fishing - Dove Point, Meols.

Green Winged Teal-Sandbach Flashes

3 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

2 Hawfinch-Near Rangers Cabin-Marbury Country Park

Hawfinch-At least two flew south over No 4 Bed-Woolston Eyes

18th November 2024

Cheshire & Wirral

5 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Little Stint-Hoylake

Reed Warbler-One hanging out with the big guys in Elephant House (present two weeks)-Chester Zoo

17th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Black Browed Albatross-Possible adult flew west off Weybourne Camp-Norfolk

Cheshire & Wirral

Hen Harrier (grey male) - Parkgate.

6 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Little Stint-Hoylake

16th November 2024

Megas

Oriental Turtle Dove-Belated news of apparent juvenile photographed in private garden between 26-29 October but no sign since-Newbiggin-By-The -Sea-Northumberland

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Blyth's Pipit-St Agnes-Isles Of Scilly

Cheshire & Wirral

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

8 Western Cattle Egret-Burton RSPB

Firecrest-One reported in Bollin Valley at Riverside Park yesterday-Macclesfield

Greater White Fronted Goose-Sweeney Wetlands

2 Hawfinch-Marbury Country Park

Little stint-Pickerings Pasture

Hawfinch-One again at Overleigh Cemetery-Chester

Hawfinch

8 Western Cattle Egret-Hale

10,000 Knot in two large feeding flocks after high tide - Meols Shore.

Hen Harrier (grey male),3 Marsh Harrier,Short-eared Owl,5+ Great White Egret and 1,000+ Lapwing - Parkgate.

c80 Pied Wagtail in fields next to Target Road - Heswall.

1,500 Pink-footed Geese in fields along Wirral Way between Thurstaston and Heswall.

Bittern,Short-eared Owl and 10 Marsh Harrier this evening - Neston Reedbed.

15th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

7,000 Knot and 10,000 Dunlin - Hoylake Shore.

2 Eurasian Bittern-Parkgate

14 Western Cattle Egret-Ince Marshes

Western cattle Egret

(C)P.Ralston

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

3 Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

14th November 2024

Megas

White Winged Scoter-Ferny Ness-Lothian

Cheshire & Wirral

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Penduline Tit 

(C)David Bowman

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

Red Crested Pochard

13th November 2024

Megas

Scarlet Tanager-Northowram-West Yorkshire

Scarlet Tanager

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir

14 Goosander collectively fishing this morning on West Kirby Marine Lake.

12th November 2024

Megas

Scarlet Tanager-Northowram-West Yorkshire

Scarlet Tanager

White Winged Scoter-Lunan Bay-Angus & Dundee

Cheshire & Wirral

Hawfinch-At Westrees, Delamere Park-Cuddington

Eurasian Penduline Tit-Woolston Eyes

Red Crested Pochard-Two (one drake)-Ridgegate Reservoir